Security Center

Expert advice on avoiding online fraud.

A Smart Job Search is a Safe Job Search

Monster is dedicated to providing the safest possible environment for you to search for jobs and manage your career. To assist with that goal, we ask that you keep a few simple security precautions in mind when evaluating job postings on Monster and job opportunities that you may receive unsolicited via email.

For example, it's possible that you may encounter fraudulent job opportunities when searching for jobs online, or you may receive fraudulent email that has had the sender's address forged to make it appear as if it came from Monster. Such practices are a violation of Monster's Terms of Use and may be a criminal violation of federal and/or state law.

Regrettably, all online companies are susceptible to occasional scams. While Monster makes every effort to prevent this abuse, it is not immune to such activity. To help you conduct a safer job search, we've assembled the following security-related articles and resources. Familiarizing yourself with this information will help you better manage your career.

ID Theft Awareness and AvoidanceIdentity theft is one of America's fastest growing crimes. Know the specific steps to take, both before and after the fact, to reduce your risk and minimize the damage.

Avoiding Work-at-Home ScamsWorking at home sounds great. You set your own hours and the commute can't be beat. But get the facts before you consider accepting an offer.

Network Safely OnlineMaking new contacts online can help with your job search and your career. Knowing what to share and when is the first step.

Learn How to Control Your Privacy OnlineIt's time to take control of your personal information-before somebody else does. Whether you blog, visit social networking sites…or just like to buy shoes online, anyone can find out who you are. The following article will show you how to control your personal information and maintain your privacy.

Monster's Privacy Settings Let You Control Your Resume InformationWhen you post a resume on Monster, you'll be in charge of what information others can see about you. But you have to select the correct privacy settings. Follow the instructions in this concise article, and you'll be in charge of what information others can see about you.

Get the Inside Scoop on Cookies and Web BeaconsCookies make your interaction with a website faster and more personal. Web beacons allow a site to count the users who go to certain pages, compiling statistics that show how the site is used. Neither cookies nor web beacons are harmful-but both can be controlled. Get the facts in the following article.

While fraud is prevalent online, it tends to be focused on companies that derive their business from online purchases. As Monster is primarily a free service, and the contact information found in a resume can just as easily be located elsewhere (e.g. telephone listings), you can be assured that posting your resume on Monster is a safe way to conduct a job search and manage your career. However, you do need to be mindful about the type of information you include on your resume. For example, the following personal information should never be included:

Social Security number / National Identification Number

Driver's license number

Bank account information

Credit card information

Passwords

Date of birth

Note: You should also never share the personal information listed above with a prospective employer until you are confident that the employer and employment opportunity is legitimate.

Posting Your Resume Do you want employers to find your resume on Monster? Are you currently employed and need to be more careful about who is able to see your posted resume? Not all job searches are alike, so Monster allows flexibility in how you post your resume. Your resume options are described below:

Public Resumes Choosing the public (searchable) resume option allows employers to find your resume during resume searches. Because employers may search for candidates before they post a job on Monster, choosing the public option will give you the widest possible access to job opportunities. Public resumes are viewable by employers  not other Monster members.

Confidential Resumes Prefer to keep your job search more private? You can save your resume as public, but hide your contact info, current company and references. Employers will be able to contact you via a confidential Monster email address. You can then view the job listing and decide whether to respond. Please note that if you apply online with your posted resume, the information you've marked as confidential will be included so the employer can contact you.

Important: If you choose to hide your contact information, current company and references, you must ALSO remove this information from your uploaded Word resume or Copy & Paste text resume.

Private Resumes Choosing the private (non-searchable) resume option will prevent employers from finding your resume on Monster during resume searches. However, you can still search for jobs and apply online using your private resume.

Reporting Fraud

If you see a questionable job posting or any potential misuse of the Monster website or its brand, please report the suspected fraud to Monster.

You can also report questionable job postings to Monster while viewing the job by clicking the “Report this job” link in the top right corner of the page. Note: the “Report this job” link on job view pages does not include an email option for Monster to reply to you. If a reply is needed, please use the above link instead.

If you think you have been a victim of fraud, immediately report the fraud to your local police and contact Monster, so steps can be taken to ensure your safety.